This award aims to recognize an exceptional contribution to international standards-making. The winner will have contributed to the development of a standard which has had a significant impact on industry, the economy or the public good.

David, who is also a visiting Fellow at the Cambridge Judge Business School, has led the development of UK standards on sustainable development and sustainable communities for over 10 years, designing the UK standards framework and a new international standard, ISO 37101. This is an ambitious methodology for planning, evaluating and running Sustainable, Smart and Resilient Communities across the world. David’s hard work ensured that this finished standard, published in 2016, reflects the latest thinking on effective sustainable development while remaining relevant to UK stakeholders.

His current work is on the purpose and maturity of community, while further guidance on ‘big-data’ and good governance is being added during 2017. The pilot city for this work is Hangzhou, China.

According to the BSI, ‘as a result of David’s dogged determination, the UK has gained a reputation as a leader in community sustainable development...He has acted as diplomat, editor and de facto leader, as well as being an effective UK representative.’